The Investors

Ben

I glanced at my watch for the umpteenth time, the same old dreaded anxiety creeping up on me. Where was she?

I hated having to wait on people. It was one of my pet peeves. Shirley had made sure of that.

“Damn it.” I swore under my breath. 

If she doesn't show in the next five minutes, I would cancel the deal. To hell with the business.

The door to the lounge opened and my business partners walked in. There were three of them; two men and a woman. 

I wasn't exactly comfortable meeting with them again, given that they'd witnessed my humiliation five years ago. But I had to do this for my father. He needed this deal to go through.

I stood and came forward to meet them. We shook hands and I took them back to the seat where I sat with the woman not quite long ago.

Dressed in suits, they looked like they didn't have time to waste, and I wasn't one to dally when it comes to business either. 

But my new wife - I didn't even know her name - was nowhere to be found.

“We thought you'd be here with your partner?” The woman asked me, smiling politely.

“Yes, she just went to the lady's room. She'll be back soon.” I said, my anger rising inside of me.

“Great guy like you, I'm sure your wife is a catch.” One of the men remarked as we all took our seats.

More like a thief. She was probably already halfway to the Maldives with my card. I was a fool to trust a woman with a hoodlum for a boyfriend.

If my father hadn't pleaded that I find a way to make it happen, I wouldn't be talking to this woman, let alone marrying her.

But soon, the door burst open and she walked in, looking like a million bucks.

For a second I doubted she was the same woman who'd left here just 10 minutes ago.

She looked like a model, and she chose the best fitting dinner dress I'd ever seen. I hadn't noticed before, but she had nice, clear skin, with long flowing blond hair that cascaded majestically down her back.

She was stunning.

She had a big smile on her face as she came to meet us. This woman was a great actress.

“Hi, it's great to finally meet all of you.” She said as she extended and shook their hands and I noticed the expensive-looking ring on her finger. 

I never gave her a ring. But if it was going to help convince our company that we were married then, sure. She was smart, I'd give her that.

“I apologize for having kept you waiting.” She said, and didn't bother to further explain why.

But they didn't seem to mind. They were enamored by her charm, especially the men. They all smiled and nodded as she gracefully took her seat beside me.

I could only stare. Who was this woman?

“I'm sorry but I need to go,” she urgently whispered into my ear once she was seated. She smelled like flowery perfumes when she leaned in.

“No.” I said, and faced the investors who were whispering between themselves in earnest.

If she thought she could just get out of the deal just because she'd bought nice clothes and jewelry, she was mistaken.

“Please, It's an emergency.” She pleaded, her voice shaky.

But I knew her type well and the manipulative tactics they can pull. She would get to leave with nice clothes, jewelry and a ring worth thousands of dollars. She was obviously trying to sabotage this deal and I wouldn't allow it.

“Everything okay?” One of the partners asked with a smile, looking over at us.

“Of course, I answered.

I beckoned a waiter. I needed to order food for them and keep them distracted while I dealt with my new fake wife.

“Could you give us a minute,” I said and excused myself. I grabbed my wife's hand and took her aside to a corner of the lounge, away from the prying eyes of the investors.

Once we were out of earshot I released her hand and faced her, the anger rising inside of me. “What are you trying to pull? We have a deal. You signed the papers.” I growled at her, unable to hold back.

She started to tear up but I knew she was still acting. “It's my father, he got in an accident. I got a text while I was in the boutique.”

But I didn't believe her one bit. If she could fool three learned people with her charms, who knows what else she's capable of. Determined to catch her in the lie, I did the next best thing.

“Let me see the text.” I demanded.

She hesitated, her eyes darting from side to side.

“See, I knew you were lying.” I said, satisfied that I caught her. She didn't succeed in making a fool out of me.

“I don't have to explain myself to you,” she said stubbornly.

“Yes, you do. I'm your husband!” I declared. I didn't know when that word 'husband' escaped my mouth. This woman has succeeded in getting under my skin.

“Yeah, on paper,” she snickered.

I was appalled by her ungrateful attitude but I held myself back. Maybe if I appealed to her sense of humanity, she'd appreciate how important this deal is to me. 

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself. I wouldn't allow her to sabotage this deal for me.

“How can I help?” I finally managed to ask her. But her eyes were beginning to swell with tears again. Maybe she wasn't lying after all.

“I need to leave, right now.” She said, wiping her eyes.

Seeing her cry, something shifted inside me, and I wanted to hold her, and comfort her. But I didn't, instead, I nodded and told her she was free to go. 

It was good riddance anyway.

“Really?” She asked happily as she looked up at me, her brown eyes shining with relief. She was shorter than me by at least 2 inches, so it was easy to see.

“Yes.” I grumbled, and brought out my business card. “You can call me if you want, and take the card with you. It has a limit of $50,000.”

She left hurriedly, without saying so much as a thank-you. She didn't even bother explaining to the investors why she was leaving so soon.

It was now down to me to make sure they didn't get suspicious. They were still eating when I joined them.

I took a deep breath and settled into my seat.

“Everything alright?” The woman asked as soon as my back hit the chair.

I nodded, trying to come up with the perfect excuse.

“New couple right?” one of the men chuckled, and gestured with his fork.

“Tell me about it,” the other added, and nodded in my direction.

I forced a smile.

“She seems like a great lady though,” the woman continued, eyeing me.

“She is,” I said, the lie tasting bitter in my mouth.

Silence.

I let out a silent sigh of relief, thinking the questions had finally subsided, but the woman's curious gaze persisted, her voice slicing through the tension like a knife: “So, how did you two meet?”